Continental Breakfast

I manage a independent senior housing community 55+ for which we offer a free continental breakfast 5 days a week. When we opened 3 years ago it was pretty amazing, but the cost got out of control and we are now offering coffee, tea, cold and hot cereals and sweets.

I am not sure if it is possible to do, but I have a budget of $500 per month for food items, coffee / tea is on its own budget. So, $500 for breakfast food. We serve about 30 to 40 people a day, Monday through Friday. Is it possible to provide an EASY to prepare continental breakfast with that budget and head count?

We have a nice kitchen, storage, but want something fast to prepare, but is not just a pile of donuts. I am not a cook, just trying to find something better than pastries.

That's a lot more money than you would think, do you have access to a chafing dish or are you restricted to cold items? A variety of freshly made cream cheese for bagels is easy and inexpensive, veggie, smoked salmon, most fruits blended in.. My seniors love it.
If a chafer is available, sausage gravy with biscuits, waffles, crepes, breakfast meats, that sort of thing.
Mine also eat the hell out of freshly baked muffins, their favorite being carrot raisin pineapple with a streusel topping.

I do and can pick up more chafing dishes...I was concerned I wont be able to keep cost down....but I guess you are correct, these things are pretty cheap to make. lol...not a cook, so I worry about it.

What works out to approximately $20-25 a day for food. For 30-40 people that is tight, but as Laurenlulu said, it is doable. But, you are going to have to make things and not relie on premade pastries and other items. It's that premade stuff that starts getting expensive. It's not difficult to do and there are ways to streamline some of the work so that it doesn't become overwhelming.

For someone that does not cook, it looks like to make it work I will need to. I don't have a lot of time to stand over the stove, but I am guessing I can find some things that are fast that I can get in chaffers and move on. Really buffet style, get it out, keep it warm / cold, and move on.

I see a thread that someone was doing I think sausage type pigs in a blanket as one option, I guess that could be quick and easy...I am sure I can find a short cut to two. I just need to find things I can prepare early in the morning and get out and walk away.

I have managed housing for over 25 years, never managed a place that does a continental breakfast, but I am sure I can work out a affordable, easy menu that will work.

I manage a independent senior housing community 55+ for which we offer a free continental breakfast 5 days a week. When we opened 3 years ago it was pretty amazing, but the cost got out of control and we are now offering coffee, tea, cold and hot cereals and sweets...

A "Continental Breakfast" is pretty much as you described. I would sub the sweets with fresh seasonal fruit, and perhaps incorporate an egg dish. Is there a nutritionaist to consult with re the menu?

Egg dishes were the first thing to come to my mind. Scrambled is typical but hard boiled also. Hardboiled could be served cold as is or cut in half and topped with any number of things for a chafing dish. They can be cooked well in advance for use as needed.